The Somerset Patriots held their annual open tryout Saturday morning and as many as four pitchers will be closely reviewed and could be invited to spring training.

(Scroll down to the previous post for information on the majority of players, who were locals hoping to beat the long odds.)

Rain forced tryouts for non-pitchers to be rescheduled for April 18 at either Commerce Bank Ballpark or the Jack Cust Baseball Academy in Raritan Township.

Here is some background on the quartet which stood out to manager Sparky Lyle and general manager Patrick McVerry with quotes where applicable:

Scott Van Es: The 22-year-old right-hander came into the tryout quietly, but quickly created a buzz.

Instead of trying to impress with his fastball, Van Es left an impression by throwing his breaking pitches for strikes and locating his fastball. When he didn’t throw a strike, he was barely off the plate.

Van Es, who holds the scoreless innings record for the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League’s New Jersey Pilots and was an ACBL All-Star in 2006, is several weeks away from graduating Felician College, though his playing eligibility ran out last year.

The 2004 graduate of Secaucus High School played in the upstart independent Continental League last season.

“I’ve done a lot of these things and as you keep going it becomes how much rejection can you take?”

“If you put yourself in a no-lose situation, it’s a win-win.”

“I’ve had the time of my life playing baseball.”

“In the last year I’ve learned more about baseball than in my whole career.”

Lyle on Van Es:
He was nice and easy. He reminded me of (former Patriots reliever) Saul Solveson. He was bam, bam, bam in or around the strike zone. He’s probably been told he doesn’t throw hard enough, but I want to see him face a hitter. He stayed within himself.”

Brian Holliday: Holliday was drafted in the 12th round out of high school by the Pittsburgh Pirates and spent seven years in the organization but was not re-signed this off-season.

He reached high Single-A in 2004 but did not advance to Double-A until last season and made only three appearances at that level.

The 24-year-old left-hander has experience as a starter and a reliever and was asked to attend the tryout by Patriots director of player procurement Brett Jodie.

“Sometimes you have to swallow your pride because there is no room for pride in this game. My whole goal is to get back to an organization, and this league is my best chance to do that. I’d welcome the opportunity if I get it.”

“I was on the fast track (with the Pirates) but I fell into a little but of a funk. I threw a no-hitter in 2004 and the day after that I couldn’t pick up a ball and I have no idea why. I had shoulder impingement but no surgery. For the longest time I was sitting on a good ERA but I was pitching to survive. “

Lyle on Holliday:
“Once he got going, he was pretty smooth. He’s got good breaking stuff and he put it pretty much where he wanted it.”

Joe D’Alessandro: The Glassboro native was in the Mets organization from 2005-07, but missed the 2006 season with a right elbow stress fracture. He pitched in the independent Frontier League last season and was asked to attend the tryout by Jodie.

“It (2007) was a tough year. I struggled a lot. But last year I came back to being myself. I got my feel back.”

“I could’ve done better (today) but I know you bring it up a level when a hitter gets in the box.”

“If they give me the call. I’d still be learning from these guys.”

“I’ve been in touch with Lancaster and the team I played for last year (Washington) but I’m a Jersey guy.”

Joe Welsh: The 24-year-old left-hander signed with the Patriots last season but was released at the end of spring training and wound up in the Frontier League.

Lyle on Welsh:

“He looked like a different pitcher than last year. Better. I asked him what he’d been doing and he was on a different program.”